Entrepreneurial intention and obstacles of undergraduate students: the case of the universities of Andalusia

Abstract

This paper studies entrepreneurial intentions in undergraduate students and the obstacles perceived by the students in the process of starting their own business. Using a sample of 1053 undergraduate students from Andalusia universities, this study explores attitudes, capacities and social environment to determine the profile of university’s entrepreneurs. The results of the structural model show that motivational factors determine entrepreneurship university students, while environmental or regional factors indirectly determine undergraduates’ choice of employment status. We also find that personal variables and attitudes related to the desire for self-realization have the greatest influence on the entrepreneurial intention university students. In addition, the findings from the regression analysis exhibit that financial obstacles, the lack of experience and training are the main barriers students perceive to starting their own business. The results contribute to theories of entrepreneurship education and intentions in the context of higher education. The authors discuss implications universities and policymakers.